Image forming apparatus and control method of the same

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions. The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image data and writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unit forms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memory unit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copying conditions when a new copying condition is set during the image forming of the image data written into the memory unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/459,370, filed on Aug. 14, 2014, the entire contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image formingapparatus and a control method of the same.

BACKGROUND

A recent image forming apparatus reads a sheet by an image readingsensor included therein and performs copying of the image onto a printmedia. The image forming apparatus may be instructed to change thenumber of output copies to be copied when performing copying.

However, it is necessary for a user to manually set the number of outputcopies, and set any data storage settings, before performing copying.Accordingly, in some cases, a user has to execute re-reading of thedocument image if the user forgot to set a number of output copies ordata storage to settings different than the default settings of theimage forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating one example of an image formingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of theimage forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a function settingoperation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a function controloperation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment with FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a function controloperation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment with FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of a displayof the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of the displayof the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of the displayof the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of the displayof the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of the displayof the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a display example of thedisplay of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming apparatusincludes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit,and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions.The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image dataand writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unitforms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memoryunit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copyingconditions when a new copying condition is set during the image formingof the image data written into the memory unit.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the exemplary embodimentwill be described with reference to the drawings. The same constituentelements in each drawing are denoted with the same reference numerals.FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating one example of an image formingapparatus 1 of the exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1is, for example, a multifunction printer (MFP). The image formingapparatus 1 reads a plurality of sheets. The image forming apparatus 1generates digital image data based on the reading of the sheets. A sheetis, for example, paper or a film with an article, a letter, a drawing,and the like thereon. The sheet may be anything as long as it may beread by the image forming apparatus 1. In the example shown in thedrawing, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit11, an image forming unit 13, an operation unit 14, and a display 17.

The image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to an image formingapparatus for fixing a toner image, and may be an inkjet type imageforming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of theimage forming apparatus 1 of the exemplary embodiment. In the exampleillustrated in the drawing, the image forming apparatus 1 includes theimage reading unit 11, the image processing unit 12, the image formingunit 13, the operation unit 14, a compression unit 15, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) controller 16, the display (display unit) 17, acommunication interface 18, a central processing unit (CPU) 19, anauxiliary recording device 20, and a memory 21. Each unit included inthe image forming apparatus 1 is interconnected with each other via aninternal bus 22. Each unit included in the image forming apparatus 1inputs and outputs data to and from each other through the internal bus22.

The image reading unit 11 includes an automatic sheet feeding device 11a. The image reading unit 11 continuously reads image data of aplurality of sheets using the automatic sheet feeding device 11 a. Forexample, the image reading unit 11 includes a sensor such as a contactimage sensor (CIS) or a charge coupled device (CCD). The image readingunit 11 reads the sheets using the sensor. Then, the image reading unit11 generates image data.

The image processing unit 12 performs image processing with respect tothe image data generated by the image reading unit 11, based on presetreading conditions. For example, when a gamma compensation process and afiltering process are included in the reading conditions, the imageprocessing unit 12 executes the gamma compensation process and thefiltering process with respect to the image data. In addition, when thegamma compensation process and the filtering process are not included inthe reading conditions, the image processing unit 12 may perform imageprocessing which is designated in advance. The reading conditions withrespect to the image processing unit 12 are not limited to the gammacompensation process or the filtering process, and may be any conditionsas long as the reading conditions are conditions relating to theoperation of the image processing unit 12. For example, the readingconditions with respect to the image processing unit 12 include aresolution. The reading conditions with respect to the image processingunit 12 may be conditions for reading an image as a color image or amonochrome image.

The image forming unit 13 prints the image data read by the imagereading unit 11 on a predetermined sheet.

The operation unit 14 includes a numeric keypad, a plurality of buttons,and a touch panel. The touch panel is integrally formed with the display17.

The compression unit 15 compresses data based on the reading conditionsto generate compressed data. For example, the compression unit 15compresses the image data subjected to the image processing by the imageprocessing unit 12 based on the reading conditions. For example, when acompression ratio is included in the reading conditions, the compressionunit 15 compresses the data with the compression ratio in the readingconditions. When the compression ratio is not included in the readingconditions, the compression unit 15 may compress the data with acompression ratio which is designated in advance. In addition, thereading conditions with respect to the compression unit 15 is notlimited to the compression ratio and may be any conditions as long asthe reading conditions are conditions relating to the operation of thecompression unit 15.

The LCD controller 16 controls an operation of the display 17. Thedisplay 17 is, for example, a liquid crystal display including a touchpanel. The display 17 operates as an output interface. The display 17displays letters or images. In addition, the display 17 operates as theoperation unit 14 when the display includes the touch panel or the like.The display 17 receives input from a user when the display operates asthe operation unit 14.

The communication interface 18 performs transmission and reception ofdata to and from another device. The communication interface 18 operatesas an input interface. The communication interface 18 receives datatransmitted from the other device. In addition, the communicationinterface 18 operates as an output interface. The communicationinterface 18 transmits data with respect to the other device.

The CPU 19 executes a program stored in the auxiliary recording device20. For example, the CPU 19 operates as a control unit. The CPU 19controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1.

The auxiliary recording device 20 is, for example, a nonvolatilerecording device. The auxiliary recording device 20 is a hard disk or asolid state drive (SSD). The auxiliary recording device 20 stores imagedata read by the image reading unit 11 and data used in each unit of theimage forming apparatus 1. The memory 21 is, for example, a randomaccess memory (RAM). The memory 21 temporarily records data used in eachunit of the image forming apparatus 1. The memory 21 temporarily recordsthe image data read by the image reading unit 11.

The image forming apparatus 1 of the exemplary embodiment operates basedon the copying conditions and the reading conditions. The copyingconditions include information for setting the number of copies of thesheets being copied, brightness, contrast, and a sheet tray from whichthe sheets to be printed upon will be sourced. The copying conditionsfurther include information for setting a reduction ratio or anenlargement ratio. The copying conditions further include informationfor setting the print to monochrome or color. The copying conditionsfurther include information indicating whether or not to write the imagedata, read from the sheet when performing copying, in the auxiliaryrecording device 20 to store it therein. The number of copies of thesheets to be copied is also referred to as the number of output copies.

The copying conditions are not limited to the conditions describedabove. The copying conditions may include detailed conditions whenstoring image data, such as a storage destination of image data in theauxiliary recording device 20. The copying conditions may also includedetailed conditions when storing image data, such as a format of a fileof image data in the auxiliary recording device 20. The copyingconditions are input by a user with respect to the image formingapparatus 1 as will be described later.

The reading conditions, for example, include one or more conditions suchas a reading resolution, an image compression ratio, the gammacompensation process, the filter process, or color information. Thereading conditions are not limited to the conditions described above.The reading conditions may include any conditions as long as the readingconditions are conditions relating to the operation of the image formingapparatus 1. The reading conditions may be predetermined or may be setby a user. The reading conditions, for example, may be recorded in theauxiliary recording device 20, in advance. In addition, for example, theoperation unit 14 may receive the input of the reading conditions.Further, for example, the communication interface 18 may receive thereading conditions transmitted from the other device.

Conditions relating to storage of the image data to the auxiliaryrecording device 20 are called data storage setting conditions. The datastorage setting conditions include detailed conditions when storingimage data. A specific example of the detailed conditions is informationindicating a format of a file of image data. In addition, the datastorage setting conditions include the conditions such as the readingresolution, the image compression ratio, and the color information.

Next, an operation example of the image forming apparatus 1 of theexemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a function setting processperformed by the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus1 controls each unit by executing a predetermined program by the CPU 19,and performs the function setting process. The image forming apparatus 1starts the function setting process when a user presses a predeterminedbutton provided in the operation unit 14. The image forming apparatus 1,first, performs a setting process of an automatic storage function(ACT1).

In the exemplary embodiment, the automatic storage function of the imageforming apparatus 1 is a function of the image forming apparatus 1 toautomatically store data in order to use the data later. In theexemplary embodiment, the automatic storage function includes anoperation of inquiring a user as to whether or not image data is to bestored in the auxiliary recording device 20 in accordance with thepredetermined data storage setting conditions as described below, andthe storing of the image data in the auxiliary recording device 20 isperformed by user instruction. The image data to be stored in theauxiliary recording device 20 is data read by the image reading unit 11.The image forming apparatus 1 sets the automatic storage function to beeffective or ineffective, according to an operation of a user withrespect to the operation unit 14 (ACT1).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 performs a setting process for datastorage (ACT2). As the setting process for data storage, the imageforming apparatus 1 sets the data storage setting conditions, that is, athreshold value of a number of copies (e.g., 10 sets) and a thresholdvalue of a number of sheets (e.g., 20 sheets), based on an operation ofa user with respect to the operation unit 14.

Next, the other operation examples of the image forming apparatus 1 ofthe exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4A toFIG. 10. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a flowchart illustrating an exampleof a flow of a function control process performed by the image formingapparatus 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate one flowchart. FIGS. 4A and 4Bare connected to each other at parts of connectors A, B, and C. In thefunction control process illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the imageforming apparatus 1 performs a copying function. In addition, whenperforming the copying function, the image forming apparatus 1 usesinformation set in the function setting process illustrated in FIG. 3.After a user loads a sheet on the automatic sheet feeding device 11 aand presses a predetermined button of the operation unit 14, the imageforming apparatus 1 starts the function control process.

The image forming apparatus 1, first, sets various conditions forcopying (hereinafter, referred to as copying conditions) (ACT11). Thecopying conditions are a part or all of the copying conditions describedabove. In ACT11, the image forming apparatus 1 displays a predeterminedsetting screen on the display 17. In addition, in ACT11, the imageforming apparatus 1 receives an operation of a user with respect to theoperation unit 14. Then, the image forming apparatus 1 stores variousconditions in the memory 21 or the like, based on the operation of theuser with respect to the operation unit 14. The information regardingthe number of output copies is included in the copying conditions.

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 stores the copying conditions ascopying data (ACT12).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not theautomatic storage function is set to be effective (ACT13). That is, theimage forming apparatus 1 refers to the setting of an effective orineffective state, i.e., store or not to store, of the automatic storagefunction in ACT1 in FIG. 3. When the automatic storage function iseffective (ACT13: YES), the image forming apparatus 1 starts a readingprocess by the image reading unit 11 and a recording process of storagedata (ACT14). The image forming apparatus 1 writes the storage data intothe memory 21 based on the copying conditions set in ACT11. Hereinafter,when the image reading unit 11 outputs the image data, the imageprocessing unit 12 and the compression unit 15 perform a process basedon the data storage setting conditions. Then, the image data processedby the image processing unit 12 and the compression unit 15 is writteninto a predetermined area of the memory 21.

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether a readingoperation of the image reading unit 11 is completed (ACT15). The imagereading unit 11 continues to read images until all sheets loaded on theautomatic sheet feeding device 11 a are scanned (ACT15: NO).

When the reading of the sheets are completed (ACT15: YES), the imageforming apparatus 1 controls the image forming unit 13 or the like.Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs image forming of the imagedata (that is, copying data) stored in the memory 21 based on thecopying conditions (ACT16).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 compares the number of output copiesincluded in the copying conditions and a predetermined threshold valueof the number of copies to each other (ACT17). The threshold value ofthe number of copies is a whole number equal to or larger than 1. Thethreshold value of the number of copies may be preset in ACT2 of FIG. 3or may be changed by a user as needed. When the number of output copiesexceeds the threshold value of the number of copies (ACT17: YES), theimage forming apparatus 1 displays a predetermined confirmation screenon the display 17 (ACT18). The confirmation screen includes informationfor requesting a user whether or not to store the image data recorded inmemory 21 into the auxiliary recording device 20 or whether or not tochange the number of output copies. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of theconfirmation screen. A confirmation screen 17 a includes a button 171, abutton 172, and a box 173. The button 171 is pressed when a userinstructs the image forming apparatus to store the image data in theauxiliary recording device 20. The button 172 is pressed when a userinstructs a change of the number of output copies. The box 173 is usedfor displaying the changed number of output copies. The number in thebox 173 is changed, by operation of the numeric keypads of the operationunit 14 by a user.

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not the imageforming for the number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13is completed (ACT19). The number of designated copies is the number ofcopies designated in ACT11 or the number of designated copies changed inACT21 which will be described later. The image forming apparatus 1continues the process to ACT20, when the image forming for the number ofdesignated copies is not completed (ACT19: NO). Then, the image formingapparatus 1 determines whether or not a user performed an operation ofinstructing the change of the number of copies, based on the display ofthe confirmation screen (ACT20). The image forming apparatus 1 continuesthe process to ACT21, when there is an instruction of the change of thenumber of copies (ACT20: YES). Then, the image forming apparatus 1changes the setting of the number of output copies included in thecopying conditions, based on the number of copies set by a user (ACT21).Next, the image forming apparatus 1 changes the content of theconfirmation screen to be displayed by the display 17 in ACT18 (ACT22).FIG. 6 illustrates a confirmation screen 17 b in a state where a userinputs an instruction of a change of the number of output copies from 1to 11. In FIG. 7, a user inputs the instruction of the change of thenumber of output copies from 11 to 1. In addition, after a user pressesthe button 172, the display 17 shows a confirmation screen 17 c in astate where the content in ACT22 is changed.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT23,when there is no instruction to change of the number of copies (ACT20:NO). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not auser performed the operation of instructing the storage of the imagedata from memory 21 into auxiliary recording device 20, based on thedisplay of the confirmation screen (ACT23). When there is theinstruction to store the image data (ACT23: YES), the image formingapparatus 1 sets an instruction to perform the data storage in theauxiliary recording device 20 (ACT24). Next, the image forming apparatus1 changes the content of the confirmation screen started to be displayedby the display 17 in ACT18 (ACT25). FIG. 8 illustrates an example of aconfirmation screen 17 d after changing the content. The confirmationscreen 17 d in FIG. 8 includes display content in a state where thebutton 171 is ineffective after a user pressed the storage button 171.

The image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT19 after thedisplay of the confirmation screen is changed (ACT25) or when there isno instruction to store the image data (ACT23: NO). Then, the imageforming apparatus 1 determines again whether or not the image formingfor the number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13 iscompleted (ACT19). The image forming apparatus 1 continues the processto ACT26, when it is determined that the image forming for the number ofdesignated copies by the image forming unit 13 is completed (ACT19:YES). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 removes the predeterminedconfirmation screen displayed on the display 17 (ACT26).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not a storageprocess of the image data in the auxiliary recording device 20 is inprogress (ACT27). The image forming apparatus 1 repeats the process,when the storage process of the image data in the auxiliary recordingdevice 20 is in progress (ACT27: YES). That is, the image formingapparatus 1 stands by until the storage process ends. When the storageprocess is completed (ACT27: NO), the image forming apparatus 1 removesthe storage data recorded in the memory 21 (ACT28). Next, the imageforming apparatus 1 removes the copying data recorded in the memory 21(ACT29). Here, the function control process ends.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT30,when it is determined that the number of output copies does not exceedthe threshold value of the number of copies by the image formingapparatus 1 in ACT17 (ACT17: NO). Then, the image forming apparatus 1compares the number of pages of the sheets read by the image readingunit 11 and a predetermined threshold value of the number of sheets toeach other (ACT30). The threshold value of the number of sheets is awhole number equal to or larger than 1. The threshold value of thenumber of sheets may be preset in ACT2 of FIG. 3 or may be changed by auser as needed. When the number of read pages exceeds the thresholdvalue of the number of sheets (ACT30: YES), the image forming apparatus1 displays a predetermined confirmation screen on the display 17(ACT31). The confirmation screen includes information for requestingfrom a user whether or not to store the image data in the auxiliaryrecording device 20. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the confirmationscreen. A confirmation screen 17 e includes the button 171. The button171 is pressed when a user instructs the image forming device 1 to storethe image data.

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not imageforming for the number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13is completed (ACT32). The number of designated copies is the number ofcopies designated in ACT11. The image forming apparatus 1 continues theprocess to ACT33, when image forming for the number of designated copiesis not completed (ACT32: NO). Then, the image forming apparatus 1determines whether or not a user performed an operation of instructingstorage of the image data, based on the display of the confirmationscreen (ACT33). The image forming apparatus 1 continues the process toACT34, when there is the instruction of the storage (ACT33: YES). Theimage forming apparatus 1 performs a process based on the data storagesetting conditions set in ACT2 in FIG. 3. That is, the image formingapparatus 1 stores the storage data recorded in the memory 21 in theauxiliary recording device 20 (ACT34). Next, the image forming apparatus1 changes the content of the confirmation screen starting to bedisplayed by the display 17 in ACT31 (ACT35). FIG. 10 illustrates anexample of a confirmation screen 17 f after changing the content. Theconfirmation screen 17 f in FIG. 10 includes display content in a statewhere the button 171 is ineffective after a user has pressed the storagebutton 171.

After the display of the confirmation screen is changed (ACT35), theimage forming apparatus 1 determines again whether or not the imageforming for the number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13is completed (ACT32). The image forming apparatus 1 continues theprocess to ACT26, when it is determined that image forming of the numberof designated copies by the image forming unit 13 is completed (ACT32:YES). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 performs the processes fromACT26 to ACT29 described above (from ACT26 to ACT29). Here, the functioncontrol process ends.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT38,when it is determined that the number of pages does not exceed thethreshold value of the number of sheets in ACT30 (ACT30: NO). Then, theimage forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not the image forming ofthe number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13 iscompleted (ACT38). The number of designated copies is the number ofcopies designated in ACT11. The image forming apparatus 1 determineswhether or not the image forming of the number of designated copies bythe image forming unit 13 is completed (ACT38: NO), until the imageforming for the number of designated copies is completed. When the imageforming of the number of designated copies is completed (ACT38: YES),the image forming apparatus 1 removes the copying data recorded in thememory 21 (ACT29). Here, the function control process ends.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT36,when it is determined that the automatic storage function is ineffectivein ACT13, i.e., not selected to be in the on state (ACT13: NO). Theimage forming apparatus 1 controls the image reading unit 11 and readsthe images of all sheets loaded on the automatic sheet feeding device 11a (ACT36: NO). When reading the images, the image forming apparatus 1sets the reading conditions of the image reading unit 11 to satisfy thecopying conditions.

The image forming apparatus 1 continues the process to ACT37, when thereading of the sheets is completed (ACT36: YES). The image formingapparatus 1 controls the image forming unit 13 or the like, and performsimage forming of the image data (copying data) recorded in the memory 21based on the copying conditions (ACT37).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not the imageforming of the number of designated copies by the image forming unit 13is completed (ACT38). The number of designated copies is the number ofcopies designated in ACT11. The image forming apparatus 1 determineswhether or not the image forming of the number of designated copies bythe image forming unit 13 is completed (ACT38: NO), until the imageforming for the number of designated copies is completed. Next, theimage forming apparatus 1 removes the copying data recorded in thememory 21 (ACT29). Here, the function control process ends.

By performing the processes described above, the image forming apparatus1 displays a message for inquiring a user, when the number of pages ofthe sheets such as a document to be copied exceeds the threshold valueof the number of sheets. This message is a message for inquiring a userwhether or not to store the image data. The image forming apparatus 1displays a message for asking a user whether or not to store the imagedata and whether or not to change the number of copies, when the numberof copies exceeds the threshold value of the number of copies. The imageforming apparatus 1 continuously displays the message immediately afterstarting the image forming until the image forming is completed. Theimage forming apparatus 1 may change the number of output copiesdepending on the instruction of a user, without stopping the imageforming.

Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 of the exemplary embodimentmay change the copying conditions during the image forming after thecopying of the sheets of the document is started. The copying conditionsinclude setting of the number of output copies and setting of storage ofthe image information in a hard disk.

The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 may be changed asfollows. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 may have aconfiguration of changing the setting of the number of copies, when thenumber of pages exceeds the threshold value of the number of sheets. Theimage forming apparatus 1 may have a configuration of performing adetermination, based on the number of copies or the number of pages, bycomparing a value obtained by multiplying the number of copies and thenumber of pages, with a predetermined threshold value. The image formingapparatus 1 records the image data read by the image reading unit 11 inthe memory 21 as a data item or a file having a format which may bechanged to the copying data and the storage data when performingreading-out from the memory. The image forming apparatus 1 converts theimage data read out from the memory 21 into the copying data beforeperforming the image forming using the data. The image forming apparatus1 converts the image data read out from the memory 21 into the storagedata before performing storage, and thus the volume of the image datarecorded in the memory 21 is reduced. The image forming apparatus 1 mayhave a configuration of displaying a window of the confirmation displaystarted in ACT18 or the like. The image forming apparatus 1 closes thewindow, by a closing button or based on an operation of a predeterminedoperator. The image forming apparatus 1 starts a data storage processbased on an instruction from a user with respect to the confirmationdisplay. The image forming apparatus 1 may have a configuration ofperforming the storage process by omitting instructions input of a user,and automatically removing the stored image data after completing theimage forming.

At least one exemplary embodiment described above has the function ofreceiving the change of the setting of the copying conditions andapplying the change to the image forming in progress during the imageforming of the image data. With this function, when the setting of thecopying conditions during the image forming of the image data ischanged, it is possible to perform the image forming of the image datato which the change of the setting is applied.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a settingunit configured to set a copying condition which includes a number ofcopies; an image reading unit configured to read images from sheets togenerate image data; a random access memory that temporarily stores theimage data generated by the image reading unit; an image forming unitconfigured to perform an image processing of forming images on sheetsbased on the image data and in accordance with the copying conditionincluding the number of copies; a non-volatile storage unit; and acontroller configured to, based on a predetermined condition includingwhether a number of pages of the sheets read by the image reading unitis larger than a threshold value, determine whether to change or notchange the number of copies included in the copying condition, andeither store the image data temporarily stored in the random accessmemory in the non-volatile storage unit to be available for use aftercompletion of the image processing, or not store the image datatemporarily stored in the random access memory in the non-volatilestorage unit so that the image data is not available for use aftercompletion of the image processing.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the controller controls a display unit to display a screenwhich queries whether to save the image data to the non-volatile storageunit to be available for use after completion of the image processing ifthe number of pages of the sheets read by the image reading unit islarger than the threshold value, and the predetermined condition furtherincludes whether an instruction to save the image data to thenon-volatile storage unit is received via the screen.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the threshold value is a first thresholdvalue, and the predetermined condition further includes whether thenumber of copies is larger than a second threshold value.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the screen is a first screen,the controller controls the display unit to display a second screenwhich queries whether to save the image data to the non-volatile storageunit to be available for use after completion of the image processing,if the number of copies is larger than the second threshold value, andthe predetermined condition further includes whether an instruction tosave the image data to the non-volatile storage unit is received via thesecond screen.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the firstscreen includes an input area portion for changing the number of copies.6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if the first screen orthe second screen is displayed, the displayed screen continues to bedisplayed until completion of the image processing.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit includes a scannerconfigured to generate the image data.
 8. A method of controlling animage forming apparatus comprising: receiving a copying condition whichincludes a number of copies; reading images from sheets to generateimage data with an image reading unit; temporarily storing the imagedata generated by the image reading unit in a random access memory;determining whether to change or not change the number of copiesincluded in the copying condition based on a predetermined conditionincluding whether a number of pages of the sheets read by the imagereading unit is larger than a threshold value; performing an imageprocessing of forming images on sheets based on the image data and inaccordance with the copying condition including the number of copies;and storing the image data temporarily stored in the random accessmemory in a non-volatile storage unit to be available for use aftercompletion of the image processing, or not storing the image data in thenon-volatile storage unit so that the image data is not available foruse after completion of the image processing, based on whether thenumber of pages of the sheets read by the image reading unit is largerthan the threshold value.
 9. The method according to claim 8, furthercomprising controlling a display unit to display a screen which querieswhether to save the image data to the non-volatile storage unit to beavailable for use after completion of the image processing if the numberof pages of the sheets read by the image reading unit is larger than thethreshold value, wherein the predetermined condition further includeswhether an instruction to save the image data to the non-volatilestorage unit is received via the screen.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the screen includes an input area for changing the number ofcopies.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the screen is displayed untilcompletion of the image processing.
 12. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: generating the image data by a scanner.